Ceiling construction



March 28, 1961 Q A, LUNDBERG 2,976,971

CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 13, 1955 INVENTOR.

GEOZGE A U/VDBEQG TOQNEYS United States Patent F This invention relates to a novel supporting structure,

more particularly a supporting structure for the compo '2,976,971 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 rAnother object is to simplify and enhance esthetically and functionally the construction of ceilings.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent from the following disclosure and claims are achieved by provision of a novel carrier piece `having at least one uninterrupted channel groove extending the length thereof. A plurality of these carrier pieces, in the shape of channels with anges facing each' other are supported-from the main supports of the ceiling, at spaced intervals. In'the formation of the ceilingV any componentunits are movably supported by the channel grooves of the novel carrier' which maybe modied by the removable positioningof additional channel ilange portions in conjunction with Vsaid carrier. The carrier may be provided to form a ceiling of varyf ing height so that where flanges are removably posinents such as panel and lighting fixture elements employed in the formation of ceilings.

Contemporary building methods employ for both esthetic and practical reasons, so called hung or dropped ceiling arrangements which serve the dual purpose off providing insulating space against heat and sound bel tween successive iloors, and hiding the structural elements such as pipes, Ibeams, wires and the like which it is generally desired to conceal. In the formation of .these ceilings, panel elements are employed suspended from appropriately formed channel sections mounted below the ceiling slab. Lighting lfixtures, anemostats, heatf ing panels and any other customary ceiling components are similarly suspended. Generally the component elements are, however, permanently secured in place and a variety of difculties arise in the repair and maintenance of the ceiling. Thus in the oft encountered sitnations where it is desired to remodel or repartition oor areas, as needs change whether in offices, commercial or industrial establishments, or in the home, i-t becomes necessary to reposition the lighting xtures, anemostats, and any of the other ceiling iixtures whose position with respect to the floor area determines their function. Such repositioning generally requires a cutting and breaking through of existing ceiling structures with the resultant expenditure of time -and cost and an inconvenience of occupants. Further diiculties are engendered in the use of conventional hung ceilings in that the aforementioned spacing clearly senves to decrease the available cubic volume of any building structure.

It is with the above problems in mind that the present construction has been evolved, a construction providing means for enhancing the flexibility of position of the normally employed ceiling components whereby any desired changes in position of these componentsfrnay readily be accomplished. The invention further is such as to implement the construction of any type of ceiling made up of panel elements.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention l to provide an improved ceiling construction.

Another object of this invention is to implement modernization of existing structures by providing means for facilitating the installation of modern lighting, ventilating and heating fixtures in the ceiling.

A lfurther object of this invention is to provide a multilevel ceiling construction providing the beneiits of hung ceilings and eliminating the space Wasting results thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a ceiling construction, the component -units of which may readily be repositioned or changed as desired.

A still further object of this invention is to facilitate the rearrangement of ceilingcornponents to enhance their functionality in the event of changes in iloor plan.

An additional object of this invention is to provide means permitting access to the structural elements hidden by hung ceilings, without damaging said ceilings.

ltioned on the carrier channel at different levels, panels supported on these flanges will assume different levels and thus permit a flexibility of ceiling construction to removably accommodate any desired ceiling fixture.

The speciiic constructional feature of a preferred em` bodiment -of the novel ceiling will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out hereinafter in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a perspective partial view of one form of ceiling construction employing the herein disclosed novel carrier construction.

. Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an auxil-f iary flange piece designed for use with the carrier ofi Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another type of Aauxiliary ange member designed for use in conjunction with the carrier of Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates the carrier of Figure 1 provided with the' ange elements. of the type shown in Figures Zand 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view with parts broken away Figure 8 illustrates a preferred mode of attachment of the carriers to the main ceiling supports.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a ceiling construc` tion showing the hung main ceiling supports and the carrier channels.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures are taken to designate like parts. Figure 1 illustrates a carrierlchannel 10 having a portion constituting an inverted vertical U-shape'd channel and flange portions 11 and`12v formed integrally therewith. An auxiliary flange plate 13 of the rectilinear cross section illustrated in Figure 3, is positioned in the carrier channels U groove created by flange 12 as seen in Figure 4. This flange plate 13 has an inturned flange 14. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 the carrier 10 is shown as supported by any suitable coupling means on a main ceiling support S.

Auxiliary ange 15 of the Z type shown in Figure 2 or the U type ange 13 shown in Figure 3 may be positioned in the carrier as seen in Figure 4.

Figure 5 illustrates a typical mode of hung ceiling construction employing the novel carrier element of the type here disclosed. Carrier channels 10 shown in Figure 5 are seen to' be supported on main ceiling support S at spaced intervals. It will be observed that the arrange-ment here illustrated provides' for a break in main ceiling support. The main ceiling supports S are generally hung by straps or wires in a known manner from the oor slab or exposed door beam to the desired hung ceiling height. It will become apparent that the ends of a plurality of spaced ceiling supports S will carry a selectable length of the carrier channel 10. Flanges F rolia light fixture L are seen to be Supported on the upper portion of an auxiliary flange piece 13 of the type illustrated in Figure 3. Thebottom of the light xture L extends flush with the bottom of supporting ange 13 which in turn supports typical ceiling panels P. A bracing piece 17 havingk Ueshaped grooves 18 is positioned o'ver the upper portion of channels 10 to engage same and secure ,their spacing relative to main ceiling supports S;

Figure 6 illustrates a suggested *connectingrv piece 19l for use in the joining of two carrier channel elements.

The cross section of this connectingfpiece 19 is equiv-` alent to that of the inside cross section of the carrier channel members joined and it will beY observed that upon insertion in said channel members of said piece, the latter serves to securely maintain same in alignment without encroaching upon the exterior ilange `areas thereof.

Figure 7 illustrates a suggested mode for the support of splined panel sections. A carrier channel such for example as 10 illustrated in Figure 5 is arranged on main ceiling support S in the manner previously disclosed. The auxiliary flange member =13 engaged in U flange 12 of the carrier channel section 10 is arranged so that ange portion 14 of the auxiliary flange member 13 is splined into the kerf K of the panel P. A spring clip H may be employed to secure positioning of channel 10 on main ceiling support S as illustrated in Figure 8. Figure 9 illustrates a plurality of main ceiling supports S hung at the desired ceiling height to the exposed floor beam by'means of a wire or strap. The carrier channel 10` is carried by the spaced ends of a plurality of main ceiling supports S.

Operation In-use the novel carrier construction here disclosed has 'been provided toimplement and facilitate the con-V struction `of hung ceilings whereby supporting channels having flanges formed integrally therewith or auxiliary ange members are provided for the movable support of the ceiling components whereby they may readily be installed, rearranged or moved for maintenance of the" pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ceiling" construction, a plurality of ceiling supports, a carrier channel c'arriediby` the ends 'of'sa'id ceiling supports and having a portion constituting an inverted vertical' U-'shaped channel, aflange portion forming a horizontal U`groove, and avertical portion interconnecting said portions, and an auxiliary `ilange plate extending into said U-groove and having an inturned flange extending under said U-groove and parallel thereto.

2. In a ceiling construction, a plurality of ceiling supports, a carrier channel carried by the ends of said'ceiling supports and having a portion constituting an in- 'verted vertical U-shaped channel, aV flange portion forming a horizontal U-groove, and a vertical portion interconnecting said portions, an auxiliary ange plate extending into said U-'groove and having an inturned ange extending under said U-groove and parallel thereto, and an auxiliary Z-type flange having a portion fitting over said auxiliary flange plate and another portion located in the same plane as the inturned flange of said auxiliaryv verted verticalU-shaped channel, a iiange portion fonn' ing a horizontal U-groove, and a vertical portion inter` connecting said portions, an auxiliary flange plate ex tending into said U-groove and having an inturned'ange extending under said U-groove and parallel thereto, and a spring clip enclosing one of said ceiling supports and having ends engaging the first-mentioned flange portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,709,047 Walper 1 Apr. 16, 1929 1,878,812 Berger Sept. 20, 1932 1,931,713 Walper Q-.. Oct. 24, 1933 2,307,653 Wright Jan. 5, 1943v 2,309,695 Droeger Feb. 2, 1943 2,841,255 Kemp July l, 195.8 

